12.21.2011

Day #9 of Holiday Appetizers: Making A Party-Perfect Cheese Platter

Don't have time to make appetizers from scratch? No problem! It's really easy to doctor up some store-bought goodies and make them fantastic in just a few minutes. A staple at any great cocktail party is a gourmet cheese plate. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. At our party, I got four cheeses: a Double Creme French Brie, a sharp white Cheddar from New Zealand, aged blue cheese, and a log of goat cheese.

DIY Gourmet Cheese Plate!

They were great as they were, but I went one step further and rolled the goat cheese log in a homemade mixture of crushed pistachios and dried cranberries. It took about five minutes and the green and red mixture was a great for the holidays. I put some pita crackers and flatbread crackers from Trader Joe's on a cute platter right next to the cheeses, then stuck little signs in each cheese letting guests know which one was which. Then I walked away and enjoyed my party. Done and done.

Gourmet Cheese PlateAll ingredients bought from Trader Joe's

Double-creme French Brie

Wedge of Blue Cheese

Sharp White Cheddar Cheese (Best from Ireland or New Zealand)

Plain goat cheese log

1/2 cup shelled pistachio nutmeats, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

One box pita crackers

One sleeve flatbread crackers with mixed seeds (get plain if you prefer)

To make goat cheese log: Pulse dried cranberries in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Follow with the pistachios nutmeats, sifting any dust out afterwards. Mix pistachios and cranberries together. Lay goat cheese log on a piece of Syran Wrap topped with nut and berry mixtures. Using your hands, press handfuls of the mixture onto the goat cheese log until it is completed coated. Wrap in Syran Wrap and tightly twist ends to secure. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Goat Cheese log rolled in crushed pistachios and cranberries

Arrange cheeses on a platter

When ready to serve, arrange cheeses on the platter. Make sure to unwrap goat cheese. For an extra touch, stick little signs in each cheese with the name and origin. Add crackers or baguette slices and serve!